Electrode support and conductor.



I.-R.1 EDMANDS.

ELECTRODE SUPPORT AND CONDUCTOR.

AIPLIOL'HOI run an. a, non.

R IHEETB-BHEET 1.

I. R. EDMANDS.

BLEOTBODE SUPPORT AND CONDUCTOR.

nruonmn nun JAN. 8, 190a.

Patented 31, 1910.

-BHEET 2.

- UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE. I

ISAAC n. nmnmas, 40F NIAGARA rants, NEW YORK, assmuon T0 ntno'mo METAL- LUBGICAL COMPANY, or NEW YORK, 11. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

nrncrnonn surron'r am) connvc'ron.

Patented-May 31, 1910.

Application {iled January 8, 1909. Seria1 NO. 471,350.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC R. EDMANDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrode Supports and Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for adjustably sup ortlng the depending electrodes used in e ectric furnaces, means being provided for counterbalancing the electrode and for taking up slack in the flexible electric conductor as the electrode risesandfalls.

Referring to the accompanying drawings-Fi ure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation o the preferred mechanism, the electric furnace being shown in section; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified construction.

The electric furnace illustrated comprises an open smelting chamber 1, constituting or carrying one electrode. The other electrode 2 de ends into the Open top of the furnace.

To t e u per end of the depending electrode is secure a flexible conductor 3, which asses Over a sheave 4 and thence downwar' to a fixed electric main 5. The sheave 4 is movably supported by a cable or chain 6, the electrical continuit of which is interru ted by an interposed insulator 7. The cab e 6 passes over two sheaves 8, 9, its free end carrying a weight 10. In the construction shown in Fig. "1, this weight is of suchmass as to counterbalance the weight of the electrode 2, so that this electrode will remain in any osition to which it is vertically adjusted Ihe shifting of the electrode is conveniently eflected by a winding-drum 11, receiving two or three turns of the cable 6.' As the electrode 2 rises and. falls, the flexible conductor 3 rolls on the sheave 4, its vertical portions remaining parallel but changing their length. The conductor is thusautomatically maintained in elevated position, out of the way of the furnace operators and away from the heat of the furnace. The arjustment of the electrode, while requiring but little head room above the furnace.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the electrode 2 is rovided with means independent of the exible conductor 3 for counterbalancing and vertically adjusting it.

This means comprises a cable or chain 12,.

one end of which is secured to the upper end of the electrode, an insulator 13 being interposed to make it electrically discontinuous. The cable 12 asses over sheaves 14, 15 and thence aroun a windingdrum 11' to a weight 16. The cable 6 may also be provided with a winding-drum, as in Fig. 1. The weight 16 is of such predetermined mass as to counterbalance the electrode 2, the weight -10' on the end of the cable 6 being of merely sufficient mass to counterbalance the sheave 4 and keep the flexible conductor 3 taut. Either of the mechanisms illustrated may be vadvantageously employed to su port the electrodes of furnaces employing p ural electrodes of different polarity.

I claim:

1. An electrode, a flexed electrode conductor, and means for adjustin said electrode and for maintaining sai conductor taut.

2. An electrode, a flexed electrode conductor, and means for adjusting and counterbalancing said electrode and for maintaining said conductor taut. a

3. An electrode, a flexible conductor fixed at one endand connected'at its other end to said electrode, and means for 'adjustin said electrode and for maintaining said con uctor taut.

4. A vertically-adjustable electrode, a flexible conductor connected at one end to said electrode and at its other end to a fixed electric main, and an adjustable sup ort for said conductor,'between said electro e and main, maintaining said conductor taut.

' 5. A 'vertlcally-adjustable electrode, aflexible conductor connected at one end to said electrode and at its other end to a fixed'electrio main, and a counterbalanced adjustable support for said conductor, between said electrode and main, maintaining said conductor taut.

6. A vertically-adjustable electrode, a flexible conductor connected to said electrode and to an electric main, a sheave receiving the intermediate portion of said conductor, and means foradjustably supporting said sheave.

7. A vertically-adjustable electrode, a flexible conductor connected to said electrode 10 and to an electric main, a sheave receiving the intermediate portion of said conductor, and counterbalanced means for adjustably Y supporting said sheave.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC R. EDMANDS. WVitnesses:

JOHN J. CLARKE, 1. E. LAw'roN. 

